Improvement in bridle-blfs



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

DAVID 0. DE WOLF, OF SAOKETTS HARBOR, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN BRIDLE-BI'I'S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,470, dated December 8, 1874; application filed September 23, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID 0. DE WOLF, of Sacketts Harbor, in the county of J effersou and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridle- Bits, of which the following is a specification:

The mouth of a horse has in the lower jaw a set of teeth at the end of the jaw, and other sets of grinders on each side farther back, and between these incisors and grinders blank spaces in which there are no teeth. In these parts the jaw-bone is very sharp upon the edge, and as the bridle-bit rests in this part of the mouth it bears against the gums, and, compressing the sensitive flesh against the sharp edges of the bone, gives to the rider or driver the power to control the motions of the horse at will. It often happens, however, that horses get the bit so far back in the mouth that the bit rests against the grinders. When this happens the bit draws against the teeth, instead of the sensitive portion of the mouth, and it not infrequently happens that a horse will draw the entire load upon the bit. In this case the driver has little or no control over him, whereas, so long as the bit can be made to bear against the gums alone the parts are too sensitive to endure the pressure. It is to secure this permanent position of the bit that my improvement is intended. To this end my invention consists in constructing a bridle-bit with two bars approximately parallel, and hinged at both ends to turn freely on pins passing through the bars, and having attached bit-rings to which the lines are fastened below the plane of the bit. And here I wish to say,

that I do not claim the priority of use of par 'allel bit-bars, for I am aware that such have heretofore been used, attached rigidly to side bars, such as are used on the ordinary curbbit. Such bitshave, however, not been brought into general use,-because, though the intention was to keep one of the bits against the gum, as in my bridle-bit, being rigidly attached to straight curb-bars, when the lines were drawn on the bit, the bit-bars would so turn in the mouth of the horse that the lower bar would be drawn against the grinders, and thus the horse enabled, according to the common but inaccurate expression, to take the bit in his teeth. Where horses are broken to the use of a curb, it is necessary to use two reins, as the curb pinches his jaw, and does not properly direct his head, for which purpose a rein is used attached at the ends of the bit-bars. This may be abandoned'when the horse has been so trained as to yield to the pressure of the reins on the side of his mouth. Owing to this disadvantage of the curb-bit, snaffle-bits have been brought into common use, which, being flexible, are better for guidance with a single rein, but subject to the disadvantage that they give the driver but limited control to stopthe horse if he takes the bit against his teeth.- My invention is designed to combine the benefits of the curb and the snaffle, and wholly to prevent the horse from relieving the gum from the action of the bit.

In the annexed drawings, I have represented a bridle-bit which embodies the principle of my invention. Various modifications of form and appearance will readily suggest themselves, but my patent is not intended to be limited to the precise form of the parts.

Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved bit, showing the bit-rings turned into line with the bars. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, showing the position of the bit when applied.

The same letters in all the figures are used in the indication of identical parts.

I use two bit-bars. A and A. The lower one, A, should be curved, as shown, so as not to pinch the tongue of the horse. The upper one, A, is bent in the form common in curbbits, but to a much greater extent. The upward curve is made long enough to touch the roof of the mouth when the reins are drawn, for the purpose of throwing up the head of the horse, and preventing his drawing it back until the jaw rests against his breast, which he sometimes does, thereby transferring the strain from the muscles of the head and neck to a direct draft on the breast. The bit-bars are constructed with eyes at either end, through which the pins B pass, forming a hinge-joint when the bit-bars are connected with. the bitrings 0, which are rigidly attached to the pins B. By this means the reins draw against the end of the bit when the horse is to be turned, and his course may be diverted without pinching his jaw, as in the case of the ordinary curb-bit. The pins B are constructed with eyes to rein the head-stall. The eyes 0 for the attachment of the reins are formed in the rings 0 in such a position as to be below the plane of the lower bit-bar. A horses head is generally inclined at an angle of about fortyfive degrees, so that when the bit is in his mouth the two bars will lie along his tongue, the lines being attached underneath his jaw. When the driver draws upon the reins the bit is turned in the mouth of the horse. The upper bar, bearing against the lips, will serve to press the lower bar away from the teeth, and maintain it against the naked gum,where the edges of the jaw-bones are sharpest, and after the reins have been drawn until the reins, and the eyes 0, and the bar A are in line, there is no longer any tendency to turn the bit, but the bar A will remain in its proper position.

By this construction it will be seen that it is impossible for the horse to get the bit A against his grinders, and he can endure no great strain on the sensitive parts on which the lever-bit bears. If the ordinary lever action is applied, as in former bits, having straight bars, the bit may be entirely reversed in the month until the strain of the lines comes directly against the lower bar bearing against the grinders. It is this limited action of the double-barred bit which constitutes the peculiarity of my improved bit, distinguishing it from all others heretofore known.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A bridle-bit in which the double bars A A are hinged to bit-rings 0, having the eyes 0 normally lower than, but not in line with, the bars, so as to limit the tendency to turn the bit in the mouth as the reins are drawn upon, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of September, A. D. 1874.

DAVID 0. DE WOLF.

Witnesses:

R. MASON, JAMES I. PHELPs. 

